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City fencing, barrier regulations amended

By Staff | Oct 1, 2014

City Council approved an ordinance Monday night amending the city’s regulations on fences, shrubbery, walls, materials used, setbacks of fences and prohibiting fences on unimproved property.

Approved materials for residential fences are wood, concrete block with stucco, concrete with or without stucco, stone, brick, cast stone or brick, wrought iron, aluminum, chain-link without slats, plastic or vinyl.

Fences located in public easements must be easily removed. The approved fencing material in easements are limited to wood, aluminum, chain-link, plastic or vinyl.

Councilmembers Richard Leon and Rick Williams thought the amendments did not go far enough. They favor changing the ordinance to allow fences in residential front yards.

“I like the front yard fence idea,” said Leon. “So did one person on the Planning & Zoning board who voted against this ordinance. I think council needs to have discussions on the front yard fence at some point.”

“I like the front yard fence,” said Williams. “I’m a big fan of a community garden and I think you should be allowed to put a fence around it.”

Councilmember Jim Burch agreed with the garden fence comment: “I think you should be able to put a fence around a garden, maybe not around the perimeter, but a garden, yes.”

Burch’s main objection to the ordinance changes centered on the topic of requiring a mesh material above a three-foot-high fence on a waterway. He wanted the ordinance to specify chain-link.

“It’s all about the view,” said Burch. “I’m just not willing to jeopardize the view. Mesh does not just mean chain-link.”

Councilmembers John Carioscia and Leon voted against the ordinance that passed 5-2 with Lenny Nesta absent.

More firefighters, rezoning and Budget Review Committee appointments

Council also approved Cape Coral Fire Chief Donald Cochran’s request to hire three new firefighters for Fire Station 10 located in the Gator Circle area in Northeast Cape.

The station crew was reduced from three members (lieutenant, engineer and firefighter) to two in 2009 (lieutenant and engineer), but changed back to three in 2013. Cochran said the department utilized existing firefighters on overtime to fill out those three shifts.

“Hiring three additional firefighters would actually save the city money,” said Cochran. “The cost of overtime for these three positions has exceeded the cost of hiring three full-time employees. The city would save almost $45,000 for the year.”

During a final public hearing, council voted 7-0 to approve an ordinance rezoning several properties along Hibiscus Drive in the Del Pine Manor subdivision to the Pine Island Road Corridor District. This completes the annexation of the residential vacant property from unincorporated Lee County into Cape Coral and paving the way for a possible future commercial development project.

Council filled vacancies on its Budget Review Committee by reappointing two members and adding two first-term citizens. Joe Coviello and Max Dean won reappointment with Judy Bassett and Grace Golling the newcomers. All are asked to serve a two-year term.